meatloaf and music

What do you do while preparing supper?

Watch the news, watch Oprah, listen to your favorite CD, go through the mail, correct homework, talk with your children, return phone calls, clean?

Well, we don't watch the evening news in our house, and we definitely don't watch Oprah, and we could be doing any one of the other activities....But not tonight, NO sir!

Tonight I had my very own personal concert, and it was just right. Thank you girls.

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY February 23, 2009...

Outside my window...it is sunny and cold (for where I live).

I am thinking...how can it be the last week of February already? Time is going much too quickly.

I am thankful for...a new microwave.

From the learning rooms...the completion of rocks this morning and the start of a 5 week weather co-op.

From the kitchen...banana, chocolate chip, walnut muffins, meatloaf, and chicken casserole(not necessarily in that order, and not all at the same time)

I am wearing...jeans, a sweatshirt and slippers.

I am creating...socks, a quilt for Hannah, a homemade gifts list.

I am going...nowhere out of the ordinary.

I am reading...Message in a Bottle.

I am hoping...to get further on the office project and more eggs out of the chicken coop.

I am hearing...the hum of work machines in the lab and Jacob scurrying about.

Around the house...spring cleaning continues.

One of my favorite things...a clean chicken coop, (see previous post).

A few plans for the rest of the week: co-op, knitting club, orchestra, 4-H, cleaning and house projects.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...Rebekah holding her first fish. (that she remembers)

Visit Peggy here to read more Daybooks, or post one of your own.

eggcellent!

After five months of waiting, and an unusually cold winter, it's beginning to look a little like spring.We have watched, waited, begged and pleaded, but they only start laying when they are ready. It's been a slow start, 35 chickens and after more than a week, we are still only getting one egg a day.

This weekend the "covers" came off of the coop, frozen/broken water pipes were repaired, and tracked in sand required 3 large wheelbarrows of shoveling out.

Once finished my heart and mouth kept saying, "I love my chicken coop."

date night

All children have gone, with friends and grandparents,

to dinner and then to watch a gymnastics meet at a local university.

What could this mean for us? Date Night.

One of us is napping and the other blogging.

I have a bit of a runny nose and the weather tonight is cold.

Time is a wasting so we better start planning.

I'll be back this weekend with an update.

laundry and thinking

Today I informed the girls from now on they will be doing their own laundry. They responded with "yeah", that won't last long, and they are more than capable.

The boys have been doing their own laundry for years but, for some reason, I am still not ready to give up this girl laundry. I beleive the boy laundry was handed over simply because I could not manage the enourmous mountain without a constant state of overwhelm, not because I did not like doing it.

Laundry is one of the chores I find quite satisfying. It takes a couple of days for a load to pile up, unlike dishes that make it only a couple of hours. Clean laundry smells fresh, comes out stain free (most of the time), and reminds me of the one who wears the particular item.

I enjoy the simplicity of the chore, it allows time for, in the words of Pooh, "a thoughtful spot".

So...while doing the laundry today, more than a few things were swirling around in my head.

These included and were not limited to:

What are the specifics of this bread class I am about to teach?

When will I have time to read more of the book I am in?

Can I finish my sock before the next knitting club?

Should we be visiting colleges?

What is the real state of our country?

Will this humongus project at work get done on time?

I am thankful for all of these wonderful things to contemplate and laundry in the sunshine.

I am thankful for a quiet activity and time to think.

Love what you do and do what you love.(someone besides me said this)

horse'n around

Girls drooling over fence while watching this young lady ride.

We have been spending Saturday mornings at a local horse barn.

Of course the questions are now coming, "Can't I take horse back riding lessons?, Do you think we can maybe get a horse?, How much does a horse cost?, How much land do we need for a horse?"

Well, I do not know the answers to these questions, except TOO much. This has been a 4-H project, and a good one. Only the Lord knows if we will ever have an opportunity to have a horse or work in a stable, but it is fun learning and doing something new and different.

Rebekah with Shy Cat

Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today...February 16, 2009

Outside my window...it's a bit foggy and only a little cool.

I am thinking...I do not have a present for the birthday guy in my house.

From the learning rooms...we are completing our rock study. The next Science unit is weather and we are participating in a weather co-op, fun and interactive alternatives to complete an already scheduled unit...how cool is that?

I am thankful for...another year for the birthday Daddy in our house.

From the kitchen...a birthday dessert for Daddy, and bread experiments throughout the week.

I am wearing...jammies.

I am reading...Message in a Bottle.

I am hoping... to find more eggs in the coop this week.

I am creating...SOCKS, with A LOT of help!(thank you Kathleen)

I am hearing...the hum of work machines in the lab.

Around the house...the last of winter decorations are coming down, and cleaning.

One of my favorite things...a clean slate after winter decorations come down.

A few plans for the rest of the week...garden planning, a mini-break from orchestra, Daddy's Birthday, spring cleaning.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...harvest!Visit Peggy here to read more Day Books.

scenes from the fair

Just a few of the sights we saw at the fair. For a small fortune, each child road an average of 4 rides. We opted for the cheap food vendors at the 4-H hall and this included BBQ chicken sandwiches, water bottles, an egg omlit and wonderfully large bowls of Strawberry Shortcake. For some reason we felt no need to sample the $8.50 corn dog.

We hope you enjoy the show.

Standing 18 hands high, Anheuser-Busch Clydesdale(and Dad).

Boy Full of Bull!

Dipping Candles
Washing Clothes

Plowing the Feilds

Goat Show

At the Circus Two Clowns

See ya'll next year, ya hear!

prize winning critters

Well, it is official...Caleb and Hannah both won "Best of the Best" in their divisions of Country Critters, at the State Fair.

It was a lot of fun to go and experience this first hand.

I know in my heart this will not be our last fair.

We did a lot of live animal watching and learning while we were there also.

Caleb informed me tonight that he wants to do a goat, pig or steer in next years county fair, I confirmed that he meant live animal.

4-H is just getting into full swing for us and we are happy we made the choice to do this. It is very family friendly, as long as you are patient, inquisitive and willing to keep pressing when someone can not answer your questions.

Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today...February 9, 2009

Outside my window...it is dark and this post is late.

I am thinking.. how tired I am from all this fun.

From the learning rooms...papers to write about our trip, Science and History, read alouds.

I am thankful for...my husbands business that provides for our family.

From the kitchen...bread, red sauce, and granola?

I am wearing...jeans and a sweat shirt, I am cold, and have been since last Wednesday.

I am reading...Message in a Bottle.

I am hoping...my cold to be gone soon.

I am creating...SOCKS, I think!

I am hearing...my men watch 24.

Around the house...stuff is everywhere since we returned from camping a couple of hours ago.

One of my favorite things...coming home to a teenage boy who had been left behind. He is thankful we are home, he missed us.

A few plans for the rest of the week...catching my breath, and continuing on this project for the business.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...
Caleb feeding carrots...with his tongue!

Visit Peggy here to read more Day Books.

on the road

We have gone to the woods for some rest, relaxation and fun.
If we don't freeze, we'll be back next week.
Hope the rest of your week is good, and your weekend cozy!

girl projects

A couple of things we have been up to.

The girls decorated the ginger bread house we never got to over Christmas, it is decorated for Valentine's Day instead.

before:

after:

Hannah during a scrap-booking class we are taking.

We are documenting our very busy year of school in a fun new way.

*Caleb is participating in this class, so we hope he will forgive the title of this post.

January cake of the month

This post is a little late.
I am not sure if I really want to commit to a cake every month.

Because of a birthday celebration during January and February, the first two months are a done deal. Let's just say...maybe a cake of the month post.
Three layer carrot cake with cream cheese frosting.I really like this "version" of carrot cake because, while I like icing on carrot cake, I want icing with every bite of carrot cake. It was yummy and I will make this again.

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY February 2, 2009...

Outside my window...the skies are gray and rain is coming.


I am thinking...we must begin packing for our camping trip.

I am thankful for...God, who knows all and still loves us. Who goes before us, with us, and comes behind us, always.

From the learning rooms...the end of Rascal by Sterling North.

From the kitchen...Nana's chocolate chip cookies (Thanks Natalie), and a menu for camping.

I am wearing...jeans and a sweat-shirt.

I am creating...socks, NOT. Just a little frustrated with my new knitting project. Did I really think I could learn to pearl and learn socks all at the same time?

I am going...camping and to the State Fair.

I am reading...my Bible and Girl Talk by Mahaney and Whitacre.

I am hoping...the weather will be warmer than the forecast, camping will be cold.

I am hearing...the 8:10 train travel down the tracks.

Around the house...kids are sleeping after a Super Bowl night.

One of my favorite things...farm fresh eggs. Our girls should be laying any day, and we can't wait.

A few plans for the rest of the week: scrap-booking, music lessons, packing, traveling, camping, and fairing.


Here is picture thought I am sharing...almost 5 months old and preparing to lay.

To read more Day Books, visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's Day Book. You might even decide to post one of your own.